Okuno captures gold in 55-kg class at worlds

PARIS – Eighteen-year-old Haruna Okuno made a sparkling debut at wrestling’s world championships on Wednesday, winning gold in the women’s 55-kg division.

Okuno beat Nigeria’s Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye.

“Since making the Japan team I have been feeling like I have to win,” said Okuno. “I am glad I was able to capture the title. I was doing whatever I could to make leg tackles (in the final).”

Okuno is the second Japanese to win a gold medal at these championships after Kenichiro Fumita won the men’s Greco-Roman 59-kg division Tuesday, becoming the country’s first male wrestler in 34 years to be crowned world champion.

Making the most of her strong tackling, Okuno raced through her qualifying bouts, beating both her second- and third-round opponents by 8-0 scores. Her semifinal against Bulgaria’s Bilyana Zhivkova Dudova was ended by technical fall with Okuno leading 11-0.